Shloka 196
Viṣṇu-sahasranāma—Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Recitation (विष्णोर्नामसहस्रम्)
अन्निहोत्रं च यत्नेन सर्वश: प्रतिपालयेत । उपानह (जूता)
agnihotraṃ ca yatnena sarvaśaḥ pratipālayet | upānahau chatraṃ tathā kapilāṃ gāṃ ca yathocita-rītyā dānaṃ kuryāt | puṣkare tīrthe vedapāragaṃ vidvān brāhmaṇaṃ kapilā-godānena pūjayet, agnihotra-vidhiṃ ca sarvathā yatnapūrvakaṃ pālayet |
Yama enseña que debe mantenerse con diligencia el Agnihotra en todos sus aspectos. Junto con esa observancia disciplinada, han de ofrecerse dones apropiados—como calzado y un paraguas—y, en particular, una vaca kapilā, de color leonado. En el tīrtha de Puṣkara, debe honrarse a un brahmán erudito, versado en los Vedas, con el regalo de una vaca kapilā, y han de guardarse con esmero, en todo sentido, las reglas del Agnihotra.
यम उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is upheld through disciplined ritual observance (especially Agnihotra) and through appropriate charitable giving; honoring Veda-learned Brahmins at sacred places like Puṣkara is presented as a meritorious form of dāna.
Yama is instructing the listener on proper conduct: maintain the Agnihotra carefully and perform prescribed gifts—footwear, umbrella, and notably a kapilā cow—especially as an offering of honor to a Veda-versed Brahmin at Puṣkara tīrtha.